Saudi Arabia vows to do ‘everything’ to protect Aden

Spokesman for Arab coalition says priority is to protect Yemen’s southern port city from advancing Houthis.

The spokesman has said, the kingdom and its allies will do whatever it takes to stop Yemen’s second largest city from falling to the Houthi rebels.

Brigadier General Ahmed Asiri, the spokesman of Operation Decisive Storm, said in Riyadh on Friday that the coalition’s “main objective is to protect the government in Aden”.

Asiri’s remarks came as warnings were raised that a humanitarian disaster could unfold should the conflict escalate.

Bashrahil Hesham Bashrahil, a journalist based in Aden, said civilians were scared and leaving the city with the once busy streets now eerily quiet.

“The markets are closed, businesses are closed and their is a real shortage of food,” Bashrahil told Al Jazeeera.

“Banks have been shut since Thursday and will not reopen until the security situation has been addressed.

“While power supplies have not yet been effected there is a real sense of fear should the fighting worsen,” he said. “Hospitals are struggling to cope with the number of injured and are appealing for blood donations.”

Houthis and Hadi loyalists have been clashing on the outskirts of the city in the last few days, leaving many casualties.

Aden is believed to harbour dozens of army defectors and Houthi fighters.